Carrie Welling - No Stranger to Change

Tasty Brew Music

No stranger to change or the exploration that comes with it, Carrie Welling has been navigating life’s twists, turns, demons, and discoveries from a young age. A self-described ‘military brat’, Welling’s struggle to feel rooted in any one place carved a unharmonious path of heartbreak, doubt, and insecurity that defined her 20s and early 30s. Her bold, sultry voice, reminiscent of Sheryl Crow’s grit, Natalie Maines’ twang, and Stevie Nicks’ heart, is upstaged only by the genuine love and connection this natural performer has with her fans both on and off stage. But embracing confidence has not always been easy for this singer-songwriter, who speaks candidly about her battle to be good to herself, and to quiet the inner voice nagging her to be “perfect”.

Late in the summer of 2022, a Tasty Brew Music listener and local house concert presenter from Lawrence, Kansas gave me the heads up about Carrie. We weren’t able to get her live in the studio while she was in the area, but after some initial technical difficulties, we were able to have a nice on air conversation about her lyrical journey… including the importance of having an organizational and logistical support team and auxiliary financial support via platforms like Patreon. I was so encouraged to hear of her connections with personal favorites Mary Bragg and Barnaby Bright.

Welling put out a Patreon campaign, embracing her dream to finally quit the side hustle and focus on music full-time. Her patrons, which Carrie refers to as her “champions”, have proven to be an integral part of the artist’s journey - not only supporting her online but also at live performances across the globe. “My Patreon champions started out as my fans and now we’re all friends. Some of them I talk to everyday, and they give me music ideas! They keep me going,” she says. Enjoy my conversation with Nashville’s Carrie Welling.